Spring 2010

ANS 340K • Traditional China - W

Course Description

This course offers a cultural history of traditonal China from some of the earliest historical records (about 1200 B.C.)up through the late imperial period (about 1800 A.D.). We will cover the major historical events, developments, and trends-social, political, economic, military, philosophical, literary, and cultural. The main focus of the course will be on primary sources. We will read (in translation) the most important writings from the Chinese tradition. These include Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions (used for divination), early Chinese philosophy (including Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism), dynastic histories, historical biographies, novels, satires, poetry, songs, ritual manuals, diaries, scientific treatises, philological studies, and political debates. We will take an interdisciplinary approach, integrating history with literary, philosophical, and sociological approaches in order to better understand these texts in their context.

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